Food Business Operators to have license for running business

The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India has made it mandatory for all Food Business Operators to obtain online registration/license of their establishments for running their business.
A State Govt official said all food manufacturers, packers, whole sellers, distributors and sellers, food importers, hotels, restaurants, clubs, canteens, caterers, food transporters, food storage establishments, food processing units etc. were covered under the Food Business Operators.
Official said that Operators will have to register or obtain license before 4 February, 2016, and action would be taken against the Food Business Operators which failed to obtain license/registration before the time limit under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, he further added.
Food Business Operators could contact the Chief Medical Officer or Designated Officer or Food Safety Officer of their concerned district.

Carbide-ripened fruits can trigger health epidemic

 

Taking serious note of the failure of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments to check the carbide menace, the High Court has asked Principal Secretaries (Agriculture & Marketing) to appear before it on February 1
A division bench of the High Court has rapped recently the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments over its negligence to check the carbide menace and failure to take concrete steps to overcome the problem of artificial ripening of fruits with calcium carbide chemical and also failure to create awareness among the citizens about the ill-effects of consuming such fruits. It directed the Principal Secretaries of Agriculture and Marketing of both the States to appear in person in the court on the next day of hearing on February1.
Calling fruit traders who use carcinogen calcium carbide to ripen fruits ‘worse than terrorist’ the Bench also directed the two States to take steps for establishment of ‘ethylene chambers’ for ripening fruits by the stakeholders and for its close monitoring by the authorities to overcome the problem of availability of carbide fruits on the markets, in an earlier occasion.
Though Telangana stands third in area and eighth in production of fruits in the country, it has only three ripening chambers and five cold storages in the State as it produces around 40,79,399 tonnes of fruits every year, which constitutes 74% of total horticulture cropped area.
Following the High Court censure, the Telangana government proposed to the Centre to set up four ethylene chambers in major markets this year initially as the Centre has agreed to sanction Rs 92 lakh expenditure towards its share of 35% and the remaining 65 percent expenditure bared by Telangana.
In Telangana, Gaddiannaram fruit market is the biggest market in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh with 97 godowns, from where hundreds of fruit companies do business. The Telangana government has also decided to set up five big cold storages in major markets this year, as the Centre has offered to give Rs 14.67 crore to set up 11 cold storages.
However, the doctors warned that the health benefits are being threatened by a potentially harmful compound ‘calcium carbide’ believed to have carcinogenic properties is being used to ripen fruits by corrupt business men and shady market traders who are looking to make quick buck. Worse, many traders inject harmful chemicals (sweeteners) in mangoes, papaya and apples to make them taste unnaturally sweet.
When calcium carbide compound whose two main products – acetylene, a colourless gas widely used as fuel and calcium cyanamide used as fertilizer - comes into contact with water, it produces acetylene gas that hastens the ripening of several fruits such as mangoes, bananas and apples.
This chemical is extremely hazardous because it contains traces of arsenic and phosphorus which both have dangerous effects on the human body. The reason for using calcium carbide is that it is freely available and very cheap compared to ethylene. The doctors also warned that consumption of such artificially ripened fruits can cause mouth ulcers, gastric problems, diarrhoea, and skin rashes.
Free radicals from carbide play a major role in the ageing process as well as in the onset of cancer, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and perhaps allergies. If pregnant women consume these artificially ripened fruits, it can cause miscarriages and developmental abnormalities if the child is born.
Besides this, as per the Food Safety (Prohibition & Restriction on sale) Regulations 2011, “No person shall sell or offer or expose for sale or have in his premises for the purpose of sale under any description, fruits which have been artificially ripened by use of acetylene, gas, commonly known as Calcium Carbide.”
The division bench was acting on a PIL that was admitted suo moto and observed that the problem of use of calcium carbide is pervasive and is more than expected. In order to prevent the use of calcium carbide by the wholesale/ retail fruit vendors and the use of citizens and issued necessary instructions to both Telugu States to implement the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, in true spirit to comply the directions of the division bench.
But the previous orders had not been implemented so far in both States, stated the bench. As per High Court directions, both AP and TS should create awareness among the consumers about the dangers posed by fruits artificially ripened and enhanced, and encourage the consumers to buy seasonal fruits and shun products that reach them from far off nations both at premium price and at the cost of their health.

Health experts demand pictorial, health warnings on junk food

New Delhi, Jan 28 (PTI) After tobacco products, even junk food products may have pictorial warnings, if a proposal by health experts is accepted by the government.
Health experts have demanded pictorial and health warnings on junk food and detailed information for consumers about what goes into the food they buy and the effect it can have on their health.
A panel of experts formed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), comprising doctors from AIIMS, experts from Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and dieticians from National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad have proposed pictorial warnings on fast and junk food.
The panel was constituted six months ago to look at the prevalence and data on consumption of high fat, sugar and salt and make recommendations. The final report will be out in February.
"We have recommended pictorial warnings on junk foods like chips, colas, pizzas, burgers or health warnings saying that this product contain fat and salt in excess of what is recommended or even a picture of liver may be on pack indicating that consuming them may led to fatty liver in children and adults," said Dr Vandana Jain, Additional Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at AIIMS, who is also a member of the panel.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), effective population-based childhood obesity prevention strategies include restrictions on marketing of unhealthy food (biscuits and potato chips, for instance) and non-alcoholic beverages (soft/carbonated drinks) to children.
Children having fatty liver are at risk of liver cirrhosis and end stage liver disease and may require liver transplantation later in their life. Obese children also experience breathing difficulties, increased risk of fractures, hypertension, insulin resistance and low self esteem.
AIIMS in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have also conducted a study to look at the prevalence of fatty liver in overweight adolescents aged 10 to 15 years.
The study included 220 overweight children, who visited AIIMS Paediatric Department with obesity and other related problems. Their parents were also enrolled in the study.
"We conducted blood tests, ultrasounds and other tests and 62.5 per cent of the children were found to have fatty liver and 65 per cent of the mothers had fatty liver while among the fathers, 69 per cent have fatty liver.

Now, pictorial warning on your burgers, colas?

New Delhi: Should chips, burgers and colas-which are often blamed for the rising cases of obesity-come with a pictorial warning? While the effectiveness of this is under debate, health experts believe such steps are necessary to discourage people, particularly children, from consuming these.
According to Dr Vandana Jain, additional professor at the paediatrics department of AIIMS, obesity is leading to serious health issues, including fatty liver disease, in children. Jain, who is also part of an expert panel formed by FSSAI to prevent obesity due to consumption of food high in fat, sugar and salt, said pictorial warnings for chips, colas, pizzas, burgers, etc is something even the committee is in favour of.
"This has been included in the draft noting. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India panel will meet again on February 2 to decide whether it should be part of the final list," she said.
Sunita Narain of Centre for Science and Environment said pictorial warnings on junk food are welcome and they would push for its implementation.
According to World Health Organisation, poor diet is a global health concern and a leading cause of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular ailments, diabetes and cancer. In 2012, the Ontario Medical Association also demanded that junk food be treated like tobacco and be taxed heavily and packaged with graphic warnings. Experts said warnings could be in the form of labels stating that the product contains excess fat and salt or even a picture of liver indicating that consuming such food may lead to fatty liver.
AIIMS, in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research, conducted a study to look at the prevalence of fatty liver in 220 overweight kids aged 10-15 years. It included 220 overweight kids who came to the hospital complaining of obesity-related problems. "About 62.5% had fatty liver. Our findings also showed that 65% mothers and 69% fathers alos sufferred from fatty liver," said a doctor, adding that such kids are at risk of liver cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease.

FSSAI cracks the whip on unauthorised food business

The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India has made it mandatory for all Food Business Operators (FBOs) to obtain online registration or licence of their establishments for running their business.
A spokesman of Himachal Government on Thursday said that the Government of India has fixed February 4, 2016 as the last date for obtaining licence or registration.
He said that all food manufacturers, packers, whole sellers, distributors and sellers, food importers, hotels, restaurants, clubs, canteens, caterers, food transporters, food storage establishments, food processing units etc. were covered under the FBOs.
He said the action would be taken against the FBOs which failed to obtain licence or registration before the time limit under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The spokesman added for more details the FBOs could contact the Chief Medical Officer or Designated Officer or Food Safety Officer of their concerned district.

Inquiry into use of sewage water for vegetables

NAVI MUMBAI: Authorities from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a detailed inquiry on Thursday regarding the use of contaminated water by small time farmers on plots adjacent to railway tracks. MPCB officials collected water samples and FDA officials took samples of vegetables.
"Illegal pipes have been laid connecting the sewerage channels to water these plants," said BJP party worker, Santosh Pachalag. The party had complained to the authorities on January 20.

Food SafetyOfficials Swing Into Action Ahead of Attukal Pongala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In view of the Attukal Pongala next month, the Commissioner of Food Safety has asked shops, hotels, restaurants, bakeries and all business establishments producing and selling foodstuffs within city limits to ensure that guidelines issued by the Commissionarate are strictly followed.
Food Safety registration will be a must for all those who are involved in ‘annadanam’ and those who have set up temporary eateries during the festival. They can contact 8943346526 or the nearest Akshaya Centre for details regarding registration. Only those outlets with registration will be allowed to function. The registration can also be done through Akshaya Centres.
“It has come to our notice that juice, sweets and ice-cream, mixed with artificial colours and sweeteners, are being widely sold during festivals,” Food Safety Commissioner T V Anupama said.
The Commissioner urged traders to desist from unfair practices as offenders can be punished with imprisonment of six months and fine of Rs 5 lakh. The public have been advised not to buy candy floss and ‘ice fruit’.
The District Food Safety Assistant Commissioner and the Intelligence Wing have constituted special squads to check adulteration. “To fulfill the objective of providing safe food to all, traders, public and devotees should co-operate with the Food Safety Commissionerate,” Anupama said.
Food safety numbers
1800 42 1125 (Toll-free), 8943341130, 8943346526, 8943346529, 8943346195